Doreen and Sizwe were both recovering from foot and scalp surgery respectively, in September 2010.

Doreen paying "dress-up" with her blind friend Katrina, in early 2010.

Doreen out for a Nandos meal with fiery kids and fiery sauces in December 2007.

Doreen is blossoming at Children of Fire – especially the addition of “extensions” until we can try tissue expansion of her scalp. The added-on fake hair just helped her to realise that she still has a pretty face and to feel feminine and confident. What a difference a little bit of nylon makes.

Doreen Msimanga turned 12 years old in September 2009. The veld-fire-survivor has had surgery to feet and hands but needs more surgery to both feet and to both hands. This is increasingly hard to get in the state sector in South Africa. The fatty tissue from a groin flap to her hand needs to be defatted (liposuction) and because of the source of the skin, when Doreen gains a womanly shape, so the grafts and flaps sourced from those areas of her body will also get fatter... so 'big hips, big hand.'

Doreen also needs two prosthetic ears with implants or reconstructed ears.

There is a way to have the best of both worlds and to have the prosthesis made to incorporate the ear remnants remaining on the side of her head, but the University of the Witwatersrand Prosthodontics Department seems unwilling to consider this approach. They like to remove all lumps and bumps, to have a flat surface for the prosthesis to adhere to.

The Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital does not have the skills nor the will, to rebuild aesthetically-reasonable ears for Doreen.